Winthrop Police Charge Two in April 17 Incident

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Students report in for warrant service. Charges are not only sanctions possible.

ROCK HILL, S.C. - Two male students at Winthrop University have been charged by Winthrop Police with two counts each of criminal sexual conduct in the third degree following an April 17 campus incident reported by a 19-year-old female former student.

Charged are Robert Keith Dreher II, 20, of Greenville, S.C., and Julius O. Francis, 21, of Warri, Nigeria. Both are members of the Winthrop men’s basketball team.

Winthrop Police said they initiated their inquiry on the morning of April 17, as soon as they received information from a caller about an incident reportedly having occurred in one of the campus residence halls.

"After reviewing our findings from an extensive investigation, warrants were issued on Wednesday (April 27), and the two males being charged reported to our office, where they were placed under arrest," said Winthrop Police Chief Frank Zebedis.

University officials issued this statement: "Winthrop students are expected to abide by all laws of the city, state and nation, as well as the student conduct code and the rules of any student organizations with which they are involved. Any students found to be in violation of the law would be subject to separate penalties from the respective geographic legal jurisdiction involved, from Winthrop and from respective student organizations."